For tourists to China the experience of Mao's rule is mostly just pages in a school history textbook. But now there's a way to get a pretty authentic taste of life during the Cultural Revolution: eat in a Commune Mess Hall restaurant.

These restaurants are apparently appearing throughout China, and the Guangzhou branch in the south of the country is getting some press attention. The restaurant staff dress in Red Guard uniforms, revolutionary songs form the musical soundtrack to your dining experience and propaganda posters adorn the walls. Fortunately, though, the food comes from more modern perspective.

Communism is still the rule of thumb in China, so the manager of the Guangzhou Commune Mess Hall restaurant has this to say about the capitalist-looking enterprise he's running: "It's socialism with Chinese characteristics." Of course it is.

Related Stories:
· Chinese Get To Eat With Mao [Herald Sun]
· China Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Guangzhou Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: dongwon song]]]> amandak 2007-10-24T09:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/6/13/224510/519

While other entrepreneurs/smugglers might try attaching crocodiles to their bodies on long flights, a Kenyan guy this week took a somehow more normal attitude to smuggling. On a flight leaving from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the main hub of China Southern Airlines, he was stopped at the security counter because he was wearing such a thick suit on a hot day.

When he opened his jacket, security officers didn't find crocs or even chameloens, they just found lots of clothes. The guy had decided that the clothing he wanted to resell in Kenya would be too pricey in excess baggage, so he'd decided to wear it: more than 100 pieces of men's and women's clothing. We definitely don't want the layer closest to the armpits.

Related Stories:
· All Dressed Up [Ananova]
· Travelin' With Crocs [Jaunted]
· Croatian Misunderstands Chameleons [Jaunted]

[Photo: DCF_pics] ]]> amandak 2007-06-14T10:11:20-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/